As the spring housing market ramps up, many buyers aren’t just facing high prices and mortgage rates—they’re also inheriting older homes with higher maintenance costs, a new study shows.
A new analysis from Construction Coverage found the median age of U.S. homes has climbed to 43 years, as years of underbuilding continue to reshape the market.
The report ranks metropolitan areas and states with the oldest housing stock, highlighting where buyers are most likely to encounter costly repairs, renovations, and energy inefficiencies.
Key Takeaways, With Data for Gainesville, GA
- Aging housing stock in the Gainesville metro: The typical home in the Gainesville metro was built in 1999, making it 25 years old—significantly newer than the national median of 43 years.
- Housing stock age ranking: Looking at all U.S. metros, the Gainesville metro’s housing stock ranks 371st in the country (ranking oldest to newest). Among the 229 small metros specifically, the housing stock ranks #223—or 7th newest.
- What it means for buyers: Buyers of older homes are much more likely to face higher upkeep costs, potential repairs, and energy inefficiencies compared to newer markets.
- The oldest homes in the Gainesville metro: 20.6% of homes in the Gainesville metro were built before 1980, while just 1.5% were built before 1940. Homes built before 1940 are nearly 30 times more likely to be in inadequate condition and cost nearly 10 times more in routine maintenance than new homes built after 2022.
- New construction in the Gainesville metro remains limited: 26.1% of homes in the Gainesville metro were built since 2010.
The full report covers housing stock data for nearly 400 metropolitan areas and all 50 states, with breakdowns of each location’s median home age, median year built, the share of homes built before 1980, the share of homes built before 1940, and the share of homes built since 2010.
Click here to read the full report:
https://constructioncoverage.com/research/cities-with-the-oldest-homes